“Low level policing is neglected – this could make it even worse”: Ex-cop on plans to merge forces
With the government considering merging 43 police forces into just 12 and creating a new National Police Service, The Star spoke to a retired South Yorkshire police officer about what the reforms could mean on the ground.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the proposals as the biggest reforms to policing in 200 years, arguing that the current system is “outdated” and in need of modernisation.
The changes could see forces across Yorkshire – currently split into South, West North and East – brought together under a single regional structure.
Tim Nye, a former officer who now owns Marmadukes café in Sheffield, says he understands the financial logic behind reform – but questions whether restructuring will solve what he sees as a deeper problem.
He said: “I understand the thinking behind it, because obviously money's tight and everybody's trying to save money and certainly in terms of procurement it makes sense - there is value in that.
“But there is a fundamental problem with the force (SYP), it's been underfunded for a long long time, since around 2010 - massive cutbacks, and you can see the facts on the streets, on a daily basis.
“We run a business in Sheffield and we see it day in day out. And it's frustrating - it's sad.”
Tim says an incident at his café two months ago left him questioning the current system.
“We had what was effectively a robbery here two months ago, we know who's done it and nobody's been, nobody's taken the statement. They know who it is and I know they've had contact with this individual and they've just sent them on their way,” he said.
“There is no deterrent and that's not a service- that's not a service that we pay all our taxes for, and the public deserves better.”
On this incident, South Yorkshire Police said: “Officers launched an investigation, spoke to the victim, and carried out CCTV enquiries, but have been unable to identify a suspect.
“The incident has been filed pending further investigative opportunities becoming available.
“If you have any information that could help officers in this case, please get in touch online or by calling 101, quoting investigation number 14/208263/25.”
Under the government’s proposals, larger regional forces could take on more responsibility, while the new National Police Service would focus on serious and complex crime.
Mr Nye fears that could draw further attention away from neighbourhood-level offences.
“What's happened over the last 13-14 years is the policing on the streets has just disappeared into bigger departments and projects.
“And so the low level day-to-day policing is neglected- and it's shocking how bad they've neglected it. The fear is that this will make it even worse.”
Reflecting on his time in uniform, he described a model built around visibility and contact.
“It was great when I was a young cop. I knew people in my community, I enjoyed talking to them and reassuring them and there is real value in that,” he recalled.
“Every crime was attended by a police officer too: If somebody makes a report of a crime, it might only be a very small crime, but that might be the only time in their life that they ever report crime or have contact with police.
“And young bobbies like myself used to go, take the crime report, meet, talk to them - and then I had that community contact. That person became somebody I knew and vice versa. And we cared about delivering that quality of service.
“It was so much better, it’s times one hundred compared to the service that the police are able to give now.”
He added that he understands this is a funding issue, but worries that combining forces will only make this worse: “This is a funding issue primarily, the police can't do the job that they used to do and want to do - it's tragic.
“I can't imagine any other public service that's been so badly deteriorated and affected as the police are.”